The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-09-21

the pfopr1ety Of laying up for the future. |
During seven years OF plenty Joseph pre- |
pared for the famine, and when it came
be had o crowded storehouse. The life of
most men in a worldly respect is divided
into years of plenty and famine IL IS
seldom that any man passes through life
without at least seven years of plenty
During these seven prosperous years your
business bears a rich harvest. You
hardly know where all the money comes
from, it comes so fast. Every bargain
YOU make seems to turn into gold. You
contract few lad debts. You are as
founded with large dividends. You in
vest more and more capital. You won
der how men can be content with
small business, gathering In only 800
where you reap your thousands. These
are the seven years of plenty. Now,
Joseph, is the time to prepare for famine,
for to almost every man there do come
seven years of famine. You viii be sick;
you viii be unfortunate; you viii be de-
frauded; you viii be disappointed; you
will be old, and if You have no Grorehouse
upon which to fall back you may be
famine struck. We have 10 admiration
for this denying ones self of all
present comfort and luxury for the
mere pleasure Of boarding up, this
gTasping for the mere pleasure of seeing
how large pile you can get, this always
being poor and cramped because as soon
as a dollar comes in it is sent out to see
if it cant find another dollar TO carry
home on its back; but there is an intelli-
r -.
love to see in men who have families and
kindred dependent upon them for the
blessings of education and home. God
sends us TO the insects for lesson, which,
while they do not stint themselves in the
| present. do not forget their duty to fore
stall the future. go to the ant, thou
sluggard: consider her ways and be wise,
which, having no guide, overseer or
ruler, providetli her meat in the summer
and gathereth her food in the harvest. -
| Now there are two ways of laying up
money; the one by investing it in stock
| and depositing it in banks and leaning it
on bond and mortgage. The other way
| Of laying up money is giving it away.
| He is the safest who makes both of these
| investments. But the man who devotes
none of his gain to the cause of Christ
and thinks only of his own comfort and
| luxury is not safe, don't care low his
money is invested. He acted as the rose
if it should say: Il viii hold my breath
and no one shall have snatch of fra
| GRANGE from me until next week, and
then / win set all the garden afioat with
the aroma. The time comes, but having
been without fragrance for so long it has
nothing then to give. But above all, lay up
treasures in heaven. They never depreci-
ate in value. They never are at a dis
count. They are always available. You
NAV feel safe now with your present
| yearly income, but what will such an in
| come be worth after you are dead?
Others will get it. Perhaps some of
them will quarrel about it before you are
. buried. They viii be right glad that you
are dead. They are only waiting for you
| to die. What then viii all your accumu-
lation be worth if you could gather it all
into your bosom and walk up with it to
heavens gate? 1t would not purchase
your admission; or, if allowed to enter
it could not buy you a crown or a robe
and the poorest saint in heaven would
look down and say; ''Where did that
pauper come FROM"
Finally: learn from this subject that in
every famine there is storehouse. Up
the long row of building piled to the very
roof with corn come the hungry multi
tudes, and Joseph commanded that their
sacks and wagons be filled. The world
has been blasted. Every green thing has
withered under the touch of sin. From
all continents and islands and zones
comes up the groan of dying millions
Over the tropical spice grove, and
Siberian ice hut, and Hindoo Jungle the
blight has fallen. The famine is uni
versal But, glory be to God there is a
great storehouse. Jesus Christ, our elder
brother. this day bids us come in from
our hunger and beggary, and obtain in
finite supplies of grace enough to make
us rich forever. Many of you have for a
long while been smitten of the famine.
The world has not stilled the throbbing of
your spirit. Your conscience sometimes
rouses you up with such suddenness and
strength that it requires the most gigantic
determination to quell the disturbance.
Your courage quakes at the thought of
the future. Oh, why will you tarry
amid the hastings of the famine when
such a glorious storehouse is open in
Gods mercy?
We wrctched, hungry, starving poor,
Behold royal feast,
Where mercy spreads her bounteous store
For every humble guest.
| See, Jesus stands with open arms
He calls, he bids you come;
Guilt holds you back and fears alarms,
But see, there yes is room.